Selectively divisible liquid container with removable divider

ABSTRACT

A selectively divisible liquid container includes a primary receptacle and a divider that is selectively sealably received within the primary receptacle such that the primary receptacle is divided into at least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles.

BACKGROUND

[0001] Liquid-holding containers are typically single-chamber receptacles. Some liquid containers include two or more permanent receptacles with each receptacle adapted for holding a single liquid at a particular time.

[0002] A painter painting a building, for example, must typically dedicate one container for each color of paint he or she wishes to use. When more than one color is in use, the need for separate containers may cause inconvenience and delay as each container is hauled up a ladder or to a different worksite location, for example. Sometimes house painters simply dip their brushes directly into the paint can in which a particular paint is contained. This is not uncommon when the paint is contained in a standard one-gallon paint can. A one gallon paint can typically includes a handle that assists the user in hauling it, but the need to haul a separate container for each color is still present.

[0003] Accordingly, there exists a need for a single liquid-container capable of containing more than one type of liquid at a time. Although such an apparatus would satisfy needs in a diversity of fields, a particular need exists in the painting industry for a single container that can simultaneously contain plural colors of paint for toting around a worksite.

SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention is directed to a liquid container capable of simultaneously containing more than one type of liquid. Moreover, the container is selectively divisible such that the maximum number of different liquids that the container can hold at any one time is alterable.

[0005] Although various embodiments and versions of a selectively divisible liquid container are described with specific reference to the containing of paint, it will be appreciated that such a container is equally applicable to a variety of non-painting related applications. Accordingly, the description should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention to paint containers.

[0006] Various embodiments and versions of the invention may include one or more of the following features.

[0007] In an embodiment, a selectively divisible container includes a primary receptacle with a primary cavity for containing a liquid, such as paint, for example. The primary receptacle includes at least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces. The side wall extends between a closed bottom and an open top. In one version, the open top is selectively closeable with a lid. The selectively divisible container includes at least one insertable divider that is sealably receiveable within the primary receptacle such that the primary receptacle is divided into at least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles having subsidiary cavities.

[0008] In one version, each divider includes at least one substantially planar partition having first and second opposed faces and lower, upper and outer side edges. The lower edge of each partition is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with the interior surface of the primary receptacle's bottom. Similarly, each outer side edge of a partition is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with at least one of the inner surface of the primary receptacle side wall and another partition. In alternative versions, two partitions may be joined edge to face or edge to edge, either directly or through a partition joint. The insertable divider can be inserted into the primary cavity of the primary receptacle through the open top. The insertion and sealable engagement of one or more dividers creates within the primary receptacle plural subsidiary receptacles, each subsidiary receptacle defining a subsidiary cavity sealed from the subsidiary cavities of other subsidiary receptacles. In alternative versions, a divider includes two or more non-coplanar partitions. For example, one version includes a divider having three non-coplanar partitions angularly separated by 120° which, when sealably inserted, defines three subsidiary receptacles of substantially equal volume.

[0009] In one embodiment, each of the outer and lower edges of a partition includes a first type of interlocking member. The inner surface of the primary receptacle's side wall, and the interior surface of the closed bottom, include a second type of interlocking member adapted to sealably interlock with the first type of interlocking member at the edges of the partition. In one version, the first type of interlocking member simply comprises a groove-engaging rib, which may simply be the edge of the partition. In this version, the second type of interlocking member comprises a grooved seat including first and second laterally spaced walls and a base surface between the first and second walls. The laterally spaced walls and the base surface define a groove into which an edge of the partition is sealably received. In an alternative version, the first type of interlocking member at the partition edges includes a grooved seat of the general type previously described and the interior surface of the container bottom, and the inner surface of the container side wall, include groove-engaging ribs adapted for sealable engagement within the grooves at the partition edges.

[0010] In another version, the side wall of the selectively divisible container includes a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. Alternatively, a drain aperture corresponding to each of a selected number subsidiary receptacles may be included in the bottom of the primary receptacle.

[0011] In still another version, the selectively divisible container includes at least one paint brush holder corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. A paintbrush holder may depend from a divider or from the inside of the primary receptacle's side wall.

[0012] Another version includes a paint brush wiping ledge for each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. A paint brush wiping ledge may extend inwardly from the side wall of the primary receptacle or out of the plane of a partition, for example.

[0013] The invention may provide one or more of the following advantages.

[0014] An advantage of a selectively divisible liquid-container with removable dividers is that it can retain more than one type of liquid at a time.

[0015] Another advantage of a selectively divisible liquid-container is that, when used to contain paint, a user need not haul a container about a work site for each color of paint in use.

[0016] In additional advantage of a selectively divisible liquid container with removable dividers is that the number of different liquids that the container can contain at any one time is alterable by the insertion or removal of an appropriate number of dividers.

[0017] These and other features and advantages of a selectively divisible liquid container will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a top and side view of a selectively divisible liquid container;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a top and side view of a selectively divisible liquid container with an insertable divider inserted therein;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a selectively divisible liquid container with an insertable divider inserted therein;

[0021]FIGS. 4A through 4F depict cross-sectional views of illustrative structures for forming a liquid-tight seal between a container bottom and side wall and the edges of a partition; and

[0022]FIGS. 5A through 5F illustrate top views of various insertable dividers sealably inserted within a primary receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The following description of a selectively divisible liquid container is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or its application of uses. The invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms and certain specific embodiments and versions thereof are illustrated by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description and illustrations herein of specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives encompassed by the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5F, a selectively divisible liquid container 15 is illustrated.

[0025] The selectively divisible liquid container 15 (hereinafter “divisible container 15”) of FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5E includes a primary receptacle 20 having a side wall 22 with inner and outer surfaces 24 and 26. The side wall 22 extends between a closed container bottom 30 with interior and exterior surfaces 32 and 34 and an open top 36. In one version, the open top 36 is selectively closeable with a lid 38 as shown in FIG. 1. The inner and interior surfaces 24 and 32 define a primary cavity 50.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5E, the divisible container 15 includes an insertable divider 60. Each insertable divider 60 includes at least one partition 62 having first and second opposed faces 64 and 66 and a lower edge 68, an upper edge 70 and at least one outer side edge 72. The lower edge 68 of a partition 62 is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with the interior surface 32 of the container bottom 30, while at least one outer side edge 72 is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with at least one of the inner surface 24 of the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20 and another partition 62. In alternative configurations, a first partition 62 is sealably engageable with an outer side edge 72 and/or one of the first and second faces 64 and 66 of a second partition 62, either directly, or through an intermediate element. By the insertion and liquid-tight sealable engagement of one or more insertable dividers 60 into and with the interior of the primary receptacle 20, the primary receptacle 20 is divided into subsidiary receptacles 75 that define at least two liquid-tight subsidiary cavities 80 within the primary cavity 50.

[0027] In one version, the interior surface 32 of the container bottom 30 includes a grooved seat 90. The grooved seat 90 includes first and second laterally spaced walls 92 and 94 and a base surface 96 between the walls 92 and 94. The walls 92 and 94 and the base surface 96 cooperate to define a groove 100 with a substantially unshaped cross-section. The lower edge 68 of a partition 62 includes a groove-engaging rib 105 that is selectively received between the laterally spaced walls 92 and 94 of the grooved seat 90 to form a liquid-tight seal between the grooved seat 90 and the partition 62. Similarly, the inner surface 24 of the primary-receptacle side wall 22 has a grooved seat 90 including a groove 100 for liquid-tight sealable engagement with a groove-engaging rib 105 on the outer side edge 72 of a partition 62. FIGS. 4A through 4F depict enlarged cross-sections of illustrative groove 100 and groove-engaging rib 105 combinations.

[0028] Although the groove-engaging ribs 105 of FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4E are depicted as having a reduced thickness relative to the remainder of the partition 62, these are only illustrative configurations. In alternative configurations, the groove-engaging ribs 105 may be thicker than the remainder of the partition 62 or of a thickness equal to that of the remainder of the partition 62. In the latter case, there may be no clear delineation of the groove-engaging ribs 105 when they are not sealably seated in grooves 100.

[0029] Furthermore, in alternative versions, each partition 62 includes a peripheral grooved seat 90 on its lower edge 68 and each of its outer side edges 72 as in FIGS. 4C, 4D and 4F. In these versions, the interior surface 32 of each of the container bottom 30 and the inner surface 24 of the primary-receptacle side wall 22 includes a groove-engaging rib 105 adapted for selective sealable engagement with the groove seats 90 on the partitions) 62.

[0030] Although the figures depict interlocking grooved seats 90 and groove-engaging ribs 105 of particular configurations, it will be appreciated that other alternative configurations are within the contemplation of the invention. For example, grooves 100 and groove-engaging ribs 105 of V-shaped, L-shaped and T-shaped cross-section are possible under certain conditions.

[0031] In alternative versions, as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F for example, to facilitate liquid-tight sealable engagement between a partition 62 and grooved seats 90, a resilient deformable sealing member 120 is disposed between a sealably interlocked pair of grooved seats 90 and groove-engaging ribs 105. A sealing member 120 may be attached to either or both of the grooved seat 90 and the groove-engaging rib 105. When the partition 62 is urged into sealable engagement with the primary receptacle 20, the sealing member 120 is compressibly deformed between a grooved seat 90 and a groove-engaging rib 105. The sealing member 120 has a memory property tending to return it to an uncompressed configuration when a partition 62 is not sealably engaged with the primary receptacle 20 and/or another partition 62. The sealing member 120 can be made from a material of suitable durometer such as rubber, plastic or some other polymer, for example. Furthermore, the sealing member 120 may be an applied layer or integrally formed with either of the groove-engaging rib(s) 105 and the grooved seat(s) 90. In still other alternative versions, the groove-engaging ribs 105 and/or the grooved seats 90 themselves may comprise a material that is sufficiently rigid to form the described structures, but sufficiently resilient to flex and form liquid-tight seals.

[0032]FIGS. 5A to 5F depict top views of illustrative configurations of insertable dividers 60. Each divider 60 is shown sealably inserted into a primary receptacle of circular cross section as viewed into a horizontal plane. In the simple case shown in FIG. 5A, an insertable divider 60 includes a single, substantially planar partition 62 that extends along a chord AB of the circular perimeter of the primary receptacle 20. In this particular case, the chord AB along which the divider extends corresponds to the diameter of the primary receptacle 20. The primary receptacle 20 and the primary cavity 50 have been divided into two subsidiary receptacles 75 defining two subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume.

[0033] Insertable dividers 60 comprising two or more non-coplanar partitions 62, such as those shown in FIGS. 5B through 5F, are alternatively of single-piece construction or selectively assembleable by a user as explained further below.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 5B, a divider 60 comprises three non-coplanar partitions 62 that define three subsidiary receptacles 75. The partitions 62 are angularly equi-spaced such that there is 120 degrees separating adjacent partitions 62. Consequently, the partitions 62 define three subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume within the primary cavity 50.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 5C, a divider 60 includes four angularly equi-spaced partitions 62 defining four subsidiary receptacles 75 having subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume. In one version, the divider 60 is prefabricated—by molding, for example—and permanently configured. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 5C, one or more partitions 62 of the divider 60 is removably and sealably attachable to the others so that dividers 60 of alterable configuration can be temporarily assembled. A liquid-tight seal may be formed between two removably attachable partitions 62 in the same, or substantially the same, way that a liquid-tight seal is formed between a partition 62 and the primary receptacle 20. In FIG. 5C, the divider 60 has been assembled using four partitions 62 joined to one another at and by a partition joint 61. In the version shown, the partition joint 61 is a substantially cylindrical member that is centrally located within the primary receptacle 20 and includes four longitudinally extending L-shaped groove-engaging ribs 105, each of which groove-engaging ribs 105 is adapted for selective sealable engagement with an L-shaped grove 100 in an outer side edge of a partition 62.

[0036] Alternatively, two or more partitions 62 may be permanently joined at a partition joint 61. For example, two or more partitions 62 may be molded together, adhered or otherwise permanently connected at a partition joint 61 during manufacture of the divider 60. Regardless of whether partitions 62 are permanently or removably attached to a partition joint 61, when a divider having a partition joint 61 is sealably received within the primary receptacle 20, the partition joint 61, while not necessary centrally disposed, will typically be disposed inwardly of the at least one side wall 22.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5D, a divider 60 defining five subsidiary receptacles 75 is illustrated. In this particular example, the five partitions 62 defining five subsidiary receptacles 75 are equi-spaced at angles of 72 degrees between adjacent partitions 62. Moreover, the divider 60 is permanently configured.

[0038]FIG. 5E illustrates a divider 60 with six angularly equi-spaced partitions, there being an angle of 60 degrees between adjacent partitions.

[0039] In FIG. 5F, a first partition 62A divides the primary receptacle 20 into two subsidiary receptacles 75. A second partition 62B extends perpendicularly, and radially, from the center of the first partition 62A. This configuration is sensible if, for example, a user wishes to contain three colors of paint, and twice as much of one color were needed as each of the other two colors because there are three subsidiary receptacles 75, one of which is twice the volume of each of the other two. To create two subsidiary receptacles 75 with subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume, partition 62B would be removed. To create four subsidiary receptacles 75, a third partition 62C (not shown) could be sealably inserted between the first partition 62A and the inner surface of the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20. In this particular case, the second divider 62B is sealably secured within the primary receptacle 20 with its lower edge 68 sealably engaged to the interior surface 32 of the container bottom 30, one of its two outer side edges 72 sealably engaged to the inner surface 24 of the primary receptacle side wall 22 and the other of its outer side edges 72 sealably engaged with the second face 66 of the first partition 62.

[0040] Although user-assembled dividers 60 have been illustrated and discussed in connection with dividers 60 of a particular fully-assembled configuration (i.e., those shown in FIGS. 5C and 5F), user-assembled dividers 60 of any fully assembled configuration are possible and within the scope and contemplation of the invention. A “fully” assembled divider 60 is one in which all of the partitions 62 that can be included within the divider 60 are included. The example of FIG. 5F is not in a fully assembled configuration; the connection of one more partition 62 to the groove-engaging rib 105 previously indicated would render the divider 60 of FIG. 5F “fully assembled” or “fully configured.” Therefore, the divider 60 of FIG. 5F is a three-partition, four-cavity fully assembled divider 60.

[0041] Although, in alternative versions, dividers 60 of any configuration are either permanently configured or temporarily assembled, one advantage of dividers 60 that are temporarily assembled is that they are comprised of partitions 62 which, when unassembled, consume less storage space than multiple permanently configured dividers 60. For example, the divider 60 of FIG. 5C, when unassembled, requires substantially less storage space than a permanently configured four-cavity divider 60 of a size equal to the fully assembled divider 60 of FIG. 5C.

[0042] It will be appreciated that, although the examples illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5F show dividers 60 that divide circular-cross-section primary receptacles 20 into subsidiary receptacles 75 with subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume, this in no way limits the scope of the invention or its applications. These illustrations are demonstrative only, and it is to be understood that numerous alternative configurations of the primary receptacle 20 and the divider(s) 60 are within the scope and contemplation of the invention as it is expressed in the claims.

[0043] In another embodiment, the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle includes a drain aperture 130 corresponding to each of a selected number of possible subsidiary receptacles 75. A drain aperture 130 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each drain aperture 130 is near the container bottom 30 so that the paint from one subsidiary receptacle 75 can be drained without having to tilt the primary receptacle 20 and spill paint from one or more other subsidiary receptacles 75. Drain apertures 130 can be included in alternative locations, such as in the container bottom 30, for example. Each drain aperture 130 is selectively sealable by a drain stop 132 to prevent liquid within the receptacle 20, 75 from flowing to the outside of the primary receptacle 20. The drain stop 132 may be a resilient plug or threaded shaft (not shown), for example. Where the drain stop 132 is a threaded shaft, the drain aperture 132 would be threaded as well. In the version shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the drain stop 132 is in the form of a gate 135 that alternately slides over and away from the drain aperture 130 to alternately block and permit the flow of liquid from inside the receptacle 20, 75, respectively. The gate 135 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 slides within a gate track 138. When the gate 135 is positioned over the drain aperture 130, it forms a liquid-tight seal with the portion of the outer surface 26 of the container side wall 22, or the exterior surface 34 of the container bottom 30, surrounding the drain aperture 130. Other examples of alternative drain apertures 130 and cooperating drain stops 132 include a spigot, a threaded valve, and a slide valve such as the slide valve commonly found near the base of a sports-drink cooler under which a user positions a cup and depresses a valve with his or her thumb to draw liquid by means of gravity.

[0044] In other embodiments of a selectively divisible liquid container 15, each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles 75 includes at least one brush holder 150 for retaining a paint brush 200. A brush holder 150 may depend from a partition 62 or from a side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20, for example. As shown in FIG. 2, one version of a brush holder 150 includes a pair of opposed, arcuate, resilient clamping members 152 biased toward a clamping position and which are flexed apart when a brush handle 205 is inserted between them. Alternatively, a brush holder 150 may simply be in the form of a hook or shaft adapted for hanging engagement with a hole in a paint-brush handle 205.

[0045] In one version, the upper edge 70 of a partition 62 includes a brush-wiping ledge 165 that protrudes out of the plane of the partition 62 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one or more inwardly-protruding, brush-wiping ledges 165 may depend from the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A selectively divisible liquid container comprising: a primary receptacle including a closed bottom, an open top and at least one side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top, the closed bottom having interior and exterior surfaces and the at least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces, the interior and inner surfaces defining a primary cavity; and a divider that is selectively sealably received within the primary receptacle such that, when the divider is sealably received within the primary receptacle, the primary receptacle is divided into at least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles, each subsidiary receptacle including a subsidiary cavity.
 2. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 wherein the divider includes at least a first partition, the first partition having first and second opposed faces and a lower edge, an upper edge and at least one outer side edge, the lower edge being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with the interior surface of the container bottom and the at least one outer side edge being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with at least one of (i) the inner surface of the at least one side wall of the primary receptacle and (ii) a second partition.
 3. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 2 wherein each edge of a first partition that selectively sealably engages one of the (i) interior surface of the container bottom, (ii) the inside surface of the side wall and (iii) a second partition includes one of a sealably interlockable groove and groove-engaging rib and wherein each of the (i) interior surface of the container bottom, (ii) the inside surface of the side wall and (iii) the second partition includes the other of the sealably interlockable groove and groove-engaging rib.
 4. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 2 wherein the divider includes at least two non-coplanar partitions.
 5. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 further including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacle to allow a user to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary receptacle.
 6. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 further including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles.
 7. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 wherein the divider includes at least three non-coplanar, angularly equi-spaced partitions joined at a centrally disposed partition joint, each partition being one of (i) removably joined to the partition joint and (ii) permanently joined to the partition joint and, each partition having an outer side edge adapted for liquid-tight sealable engagement with the inside of the primary receptacle side wall.
 8. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 7 further including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles to allow a user to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary receptacle.
 9. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 7 further including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles.
 10. A selectively divisible liquid container comprising: a primary receptacle including a closed bottom, an open top and at least one side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top, the closed bottom having interior and exterior surfaces and the at least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces, the interior and inner surfaces defining a primary cavity; and an insertable divider that is selectively sealably received within the primary receptacle such that, when the divider is sealably received within the primary receptacle, the primary receptacle is divided into at least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles, each subsidiary receptacle including a subsidiary cavity, the insertable divider including a first partition having first and second opposed faces and a lower edge, an upper edge and two outer side edges, the lower edge being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with the interior surface of the container bottom and the outer side edges being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with the inner surface of the at least one side wall of the primary receptacle.
 11. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 0 wherein (i) the bottom edge of the first partition includes one of a groove and a groove-engaging rib adapted for sealable engagement with the groove and the interior surface of the closed bottom includes the other of a groove and a groove-engaging rib to sealably engage the lower edge of the first partition; and (ii) each of the two outer side edges of the first partition includes one of a groove and a groove-engaging rib adapted for sealable engagement with the groove and the at least one side wall includes one each of the other of a groove and a groove-engaging rib to sealably engage the outer side edges of the first partition.
 12. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 0 further including at least a second partition having a lower edge and two outer side edges, the lower edge being adapted for liquid-tight sealable engagement with the interior surface of the container bottom and one each of the outer side edges being adapted for liquid-tight sealable engagement with the inside surface of the container side wall and at least one of the first and second faces of the first partition.
 13. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 10 further including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles to allow a user to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary receptacle.
 14. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 10 further including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. 